As a tribute to Makareta Vatemosi, the designer behind the masi motifs that now feature as the official logo for Fiji airways, the new A330 is named after her village Namuka-i-Lau.

In welcoming the new aircraft, the Prime Minister paid tribute to her work.

“Like every Fijian, I was tremendously impressed and inspired by her creation. How wonderful that this is the image of Fiji that these new planes will take to airports around the world. How wonderful that Makareta’s creation has been hailed as brilliant by so many design experts around the world.

Makareta, vinaka vakalevu. You did us proud. You did your country proud and you did your home island proud”.

The Prime Minister said that new flight services provided through the A330 aircrafts is expected to boost visitor numbers to the country.

“As I’ve said before, my Government encourages competition as the best way to keep airfares affordable for ordinary people. But that doesn’t stop me from urging every Fijian to support their national airline, to keep their dollars in Fiji and safeguard the jobs of Fijian workers,” PM Bainimarama said.

“With these new planes, Fiji Airways gains a new ability to compete against its rivals.

“Now that the second is here, the airline will be starting its A330 service to Sydney in a couple of weeks, to add to those already operating to Auckland, Brisbane and Hong Kong. And soon, the new aircraft will begin flying to Los Angeles, with extra services coming on stream later in the year when the third and final Airbus arrives and our 747s are retired.”

The Prime Minister was joined by other government officials including officials from the private sector at the receiving ceremony for the new aircraft.